Book binding machine and method



y 7, 1966 A. FREUNDLICH 3,251,385

BOOK BINDING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Aug. 30, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR AL BERT FEEL/N01. ICH

ATTORNEY May 17, 1966 A. FREUNDLICH 3,251,385

BOOK BINDING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Aug. 30, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I" "'l"25i l INVENTOR ALBERT FREUNDLICH ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,251,385 BOOK BINDING MACHINE AND METHOD Albert Freundlich, New York, N.Y., assignor to Freundlich-Gomez Machinery Corporation, College Point, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 305,594

11 Claims. (Cl. 140-923) This invention relates to a book binding machine and method, and has particular reference to a machine of the type which inserts the coil binders commonly employed in the making of stenographers notebooks, for example.

Reference is made to the co-pending application of John O. Whitcomb, Serial No. 5,469, filed January 29, 1960, now Patent No. 3,133,562, which shows a machine worked out in practicable form for employing the broad idea of the present invention. The present construction comprises the use of grooved hooks adapted to extend through certain of the perforations of the notebook adjacent one end thereof to position such openings for reception of the coiled wire binder, These hooks are of indeterminate number and one is preferably adjacent one longitudinal edge of the book to facilitate the entrance of the coiled binder into the book openings, the binder being spun or rotated to feed it through the openings and the grooves in the hooks serving to guide the binder wire. This broad idea in itself is shown in the prior'art, for example, in my prior Patent No. 2,961,012, granted Noveniber 22, 1960.

In such prior machines, the projecting portions of the hookswhich were insertable in the book openings were curved from end to end and the books were fed into position manually by operators who were required to hold the'book with both hands, grip it to prevent displacement of the leaves or cover, and then insert the book manually on the hooks, moving the book arcuately to feed'it around the curved hooks.

I have found that the book-inserting operation can be greatly facilitated and accelerated by providing the curved hooks with straight ends, guiding the book for movement withthe book openings in a plane coincident with the straight ends of the hooks so that the latter move directly into correspondingly positioned book openings, and continuing the force of movement whereby the book automatically swings itself arcuately to assume a position around the curved portion of the hooks. The present method contemplates these steps as a continuous operation,-'it being unnecessary to manually swing the book arcuately for the reception of the curved 'hook portions within the book openings. These openings are adjacent one end of the book, and by the application of a small force against the book between the openings and the opposite end of the book, the arcuate swinging of the books around the hooks is greatly facilitated. The present method also contemplates the application of such force in such a way that continuous linear movement of a book-feeding member will cause the operations referred to to take place, and with the hooks inclined to a pitch corresponding to the pitch of the coil, the book will automatically be held in a position for the threading of the coil therethrough.

An important object of the invention is to provide 3,251,385 Patented May 17, 1966 ice linear movement in a plane parallel to the plane of the straight ends of the hooks and having a portion engaging the book at a point spaced from the hooks so that after the straight ends of the hooks have entered the book openings, continued movement of the movable member referred to will cause the book to swing arcuately around the hooks.

A further object is to provide such an apparatus wherein the relatively movable members are provided with inclined surfaces between which the book is held in position around the curved hook portions, ready for the threading of the wire binder through the book openings.

A further object is to provide a normally stationary support for holding the book during movement thereof by the movable member referred to so that the book is supported with its openings in the plane of the straight ends of the hook to be properly engaged thereby.

A further object is to provide means for indicating when the book, moved laterally of the hooks, is in proper position for engagement of the hooks in certain of the book openings, which means may be in the form of a stop, a visible signal or means for mechanically control ling the elements of the apparatus as in, the co-pending application referred to.

A further object is to provide such an apparatus wherein all of the various functions referred to may be performed manually or mechanically and wherein, if performed manually, are capable of being carried out very efiiciently and in much less time than previously required for the positioning of the books in accordance with prior methods.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings I have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing FIGURE 1 is an elevation showing a book in position between two relatively movable control members, one of which is stationary and the other movable;

FIGURE 2 is a similar view, aportion of the book being broken away, showing the position of the movable member when the latter has moved the book to position the straight portions of the hooks in certain of the openthe parts when the book is clamped in position for the binding operation, the support being stopped and parts being shown in section;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 on an enlarged scale, parts being shown in section; and

FIGURE 6 is a detail section on line 6--6 of FIG- URE 5.

Referring to the drawings, the numerals 10 and 11 designate a pair of relatively movable controlling and gripping bars, the latter of which in practice is stationary and the former of which is mounted for linear movement toward the member 11. In end elevation, these members are shaped as shown in FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 5, as further referred to below.

A horizontal support 12 is arranged between the members when the latter are in normal position and is adapted to receive thereon the butt end of a book, such as a stenographers notebook 13, having leaves 14 and stiff cover members 15. In the lower or butt end thereof, the book is punched to provide spaced openings 18 thereacross, which openings, when punched, are perpendicular to the planes of the sheets and covers of the book. In practice, for example, as shown in the co-pending application referred to, the book is moved between and longi-v tudinallyof the bars 10 and 11, with the book jogged so that the sheets and covers are smooth around all edges of the book. The book may be moved into en- FIGURE 3 is a similar view showing the positions of 3 gageinent with an end stop member 19, or such member may be the arm of a micro-switch 2t energizable for controlling the movable bar 10 to move it toward the member 11.

With the book in position on the support 12 as shown and described, the plane of the openings 18 will be arranged in the plane of straight ends 20 formed on the ends of hooks indicated as a whole by the numeral 21. At points spaced from the free ends thereof, the hooks are curved as at 22 and the hooks have attaching ends 23 secured to the bottom of the bar 11. Any number of the hooks 21 may be employed, and are shown in FIGURE 4 as being three in number for a conventional stenographers notebook, and these books are angularly pitched relative to the length of the bars 10 and 11 for a purpose which will become apparent. The straight and curved portions of the hooks are grooved in the bottoms thereof as at 25 (FIGURES and 6) to serve as guides for the entering binding coil.

The face of the bar 11 adjacent the hook 21 is bevelled as at 27, corresponding to the parallel bevelled face 28 of the bar adjacent the book 13. Such face of the bar 10 at its upper end is provided with a flat portion 29 parallel to the face of the adjacent book cover when the parts are in the positions shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. It will be apparent that such face portion 29 engages the face of the book between the openings 18 and the upper end of the book, for a purpose to be described.

The bar 10 is supported in any suitable manner for linear movement parallel to the length thereof. This bar is shown as being backed up by springs 32 for exerting a force for moving the bar 10 toward the bar 11. These springs will be normally compressed and the bar 10 latched against movement, as in the co-pending application referred to, until released by operation of an electric circuit controlled by the micro-switch 20. The latching means for the bar 10 and the circuit referred to forms no part of the present invention, and if desired, the bar 10 may be moved manually at the proper time.

The adjustment of the parts is such that when a book is held bet-ween the faces 27 and 28, as in FIGURE 5, a plane through the book, parallel to and intermediate the covers 15 will pass through the center 34 (FIGURE 5) of the curvature of the hook portions 22. With the book held as shown in FIGURE 5, a conventional coil binder 35 may be spun by any suitable means well-known in the art to be threaded through the openings 18. One of the hooks 21 is preferably engaged in the groove of the hook .21 in the opening adjacent the edge of the book from which the coil spinning operation takes place and serves effectively to guide the coil in its initial movement through the book. The leading end of the coil will spin through successive openings 18, as will be apparent, the spacing of successive coils being identical with the spacing of successive openings 18. In this connection, it is pointed out that the openings 18 are made of sufiicient size (FIGURE 2), greater than the size of the hook ends 20, for the entrance of such hook ends through the openings, and the pages and cover of the book are free to slide with respect to each other so that the book openings may become pitched to correspond to the pitch of the hooks 21. The pitch of these hooks is the same as the pitch of the coils of the binder 35. So as not to interfere with the coil-feeding operation, the support 12 is preferably mounted to drop from the normal operative position in FIGURES l and 2 to the solid line position in FIGURE 3 during the binding operation.

For a book of the type referred to, three of the hooks 21 are sufi'icient and these hooks support the book with the openings 18 in proper position for the threading of the coil through the openings. The bottom of the bar 10 is grooved as at 38 (FIGURE 3) for the reception of the projecting ends of each of the hooks when the bars 10 and 11 are brought together. The center hook 21 will correct any slight inaccuracy in the positioning of the leading end of the coil binder when such leading end engages the groove 25 of such hook.

Operation A book is placed in position with the butt end thereof, that is the end provided with the openings 18, on the support 12, and the book is moved endwise until it engages the stop 19 which, as stated, may be the arm of a microswitch which initiates the operation of the mechanism for moving the bar 10 to the right from the position shown in FIGURE 1. Mechanical operations of the parts may take place in accordance with mechanisms shown in the co-pending application referred to. When so mechanically operated, the bar 10 will be released and the force of the spring 32 will move the bar 10 to the right, as indicated by the arrow in FIGURE 2, the book at its upper end being manually or mechanically supported for such movement. With the book so supported, the openings 18 will be in the plane of the straight hook ends 20 and each hook will have its straight end in alignment with one of the openings 18. Accordingly, when the bar 10 is so moved (FIGURE 2), the hooks will have their straight ends moved relatively through openings 18 corresponding in number to the number of the hooks.

The force which moves the book 13 to the right is applied above the hooks 21. When the straight portions of the hooks, therefore, have moved completely into the corresponding opening 18, the book may be allowed to swing at its upper end to the right from the position shown in FIGURE 2 to that shown in FIGURE 3, the book now being engaged between the bar surfaces 27 and 28. The book will be held in such position while the support 12 is dropped to the solid line position shown in FIGURE 3, whereupon the coil is moved by a proper mechanism to thread it through the openings in the book. The coil 35, and the feeding and spinning mechanism, therefore, form no part of the present invention.

When the coil has been spun completely through all of the openings 18, the bar 10 may be manually or mechanically retracted, whereupon the book is removed from the hooks 21, or the bars 16 and 11 may be carried by the mechanism for effecting a step-by-step movement to specific work stations, forming no part of the present invention, in which the ends of the coil are crimped over in accordance with conventional practice. The formation and binding of the book isnow completed, and the operation is repeated on sucessive books.

The method in the present case comprises the feeding of a book of the character referred to into binding position on hooks having curved portions corresponding to the curvature of the coil binder (FIGURE 5), wherein force is applied to the book, after positioning on the support 12, for linear movement in a plane parallel to the straight ends of the hooks whereupon, continued linear movement, with force applied ata point spaced above the book openings, allows the book to partake of swinging movement to assume a position around the curved portions of the hooks for the performance of the binding operation.

It is apparent that whether manually or mechanically operated, the essential features of the present construction and method are such that once the book is placed in position, only a single linear movement of an operating member is utilized for moving the book over the straight hook ends and then over the curved hook ends, the bar 10 thus partaking of a single reciprocatory movement. This operation is much easier and faster than the feeding of the books around only curved hooks as contemplated in my prior patent referred to, thus greatly speeding up the production rate of the machine.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of the parts may be made as do not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The method of preparing an unbound book for the placing of a spiral binder through aligned openings adjacent one end of the book, which comprises placing such end of the book adjacent a member provided with spaced positioning hooks having curved portions adjacent said member and straight ends projecting therefrom perpendicular to the plane of the book and in alignment with certain of said openings, applying linearly against the side of the book opposite said member a force for moving said book toward said member for engaging said straight ends of said hooks in said certain openings with said force applied offset from said openings toward the other end of the book whereby, after said openings have passed beyond said straight hook ends, the book will be caused to swing around said curved portions of said hooks, and maintaining said force against the book with the latter in engagement with said member to hold the book in position for the subsequent binding operation.

2. The method of preparing an unbound book for the placing of a spiral binder through aligned openings adjacent one end of the book, which comprises placing such end of the book between a pair of relatively movable members one of which is provided with spaced positioning hooks having curved portions adjacent said one member and straight free ends projecting therefrom perpendicular to the plane of the book and in alignment with certain of said openings, relatively linearly moving said members continuously toward each other whereby the other member engages the book and relatively moves it toward said hooks for movement of said straight hook ends through said certain openings, and continuing said linear movement of said other member whereby said book is caused to be swung around said curved hook portions whereby the latter engage in said certain book openings with said members engaging opposite sides of the. book to support it for the subsequent binding operation.

3. An apparatus for preparing an unbound book for the placing of a spiral binder through aligned openings adjacent one end of the book, comprising a pair of parallel elongated members relatively movable toward each other with a book therebetween and perpendicular to the plane of said members with said aligned openings between said members, and a plurality of hooks carried by and projecting from one of said members toward the other member,

said hooks having portions adjacent said one member curved approximately to the curvature of a spiral binder to be threaded through said openings, each hook having a straight end projecting therefrom, said straight ends being perpendicular to the plane of the book and in alignment with certain of said openings'whereby, when said members are moved relatively toward each other, said straight hook ends are caused to project through said certain openings, whereupon the book is free to swing around said curved hook portions with said members engaging opposite surfaces of the book to support it in position for the subsequent binding operation.

4. An apparatus for preparing an unbound book for the placing of a spiral binder through aligned openings adjacent one end of the book, comprising a pair of parallel elongated members relatively movable toward each other with a book therebetween and perpendicular to the plane of said members with said aligned openings between said members, and a plurality of hooks carried by and projecting from one of said members toward the other member, said hooks having portions adjacent said one member curved approximately to the curvature of a spiral binder to be threaded through said openings, each hook having a straight end projecting therefrom, said straight ends being perpendicular to the plane of the book and in alignment with certain of said openings whereby,

6. when said members are moved relatively toward each other, said straight hook ends are caused to project through said certain openings, said one member having a bevelled surface diverging from said hooks away from said book, said other member having a portion at the side of the book opposite said bevelled surface engageable with the book along a line offset from said openings toward the other end of the book whereby, upon continued relative movement of said members toward each other, the book is free to swing around said curved hook portions into engagement with said bevelled surface to be held in engagement therewith by said portion of said other member to support the book in position for the subsequent binding operation.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said other member, in addition to said portion thereof, is provided with a bevelled surface parallel to said first-named bevelled surface whereby, when said curved hook portions are in engagement with said certain openings, the book will be held in position by engagement of opposite faces thereof by said bevelled surfaces. 7

6. An apparatus for preparing an unbound book for the placing of a spiral binder through aligned openings adjacent one end of the book, comprising a pair of parallel horizontal members one of which is stationary and the other of which is movable toward said one member and is normally spaced therefrom to receive a book arranged therebetween and perpendicular to the plane of said members with said aligned openings between said members, and a plurality of hooks carried by and projecting from said stationary member toward said movable member and having portions adjacent said stationary member curved approximately to the curvature of a spiral binder to be threaded through said openings, each hook having a straight end projecting therefrom, said straight ends being perpendicular to the plane of the book and in alignment with certain of said openings whereby, when said movable members is moved toward said stationary member, said straight hook ends are caused to project through said certain openings, whereupon the book is free to swing around said curved portion with said members engaging opposite surfaces of the book to support it in position for the subsequent binding operation.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the end of said stationary member adjacent the bookhas a bevelled surface to diverge from the plane of the book and against which surface the book is adapted to lie when said curved hook portions are engaged in said certain openings with said movable members engaging the op posite side of the book, the book thus being supported between said members for the subsequent binding operation.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said stationary members is provided with a surface said book bevelled to diverge from the book away from said hooks, said movable members having a portion of an endadjacent said book engageable therewith offset from said openings toward the other end of the book, and having a second portionproviding a bevelled surface parallel to said bevelled surface of said stationary member, whereby said first-named portion of said movable member will move the book around said curved hook portions after which said bevelled surfaces engage opposite sides of the book to support it in position for the subsequentbinding operation.

9. An apparatus for preparing an unbound book for theplacing of a spiral binder through aligned openings adjacent one end of the book, comprising a pair of parallel members lying in a horizontal plane, one such mem- 'ber being stationary and the other movable toward said one member and normally spaced therefrom to receive therebetween a vertically arranged book with said aligned openings adjacent the bottom thereof, a horizontal support arranged beneath the plane of said members with the extremity thereof toward said stationary member spaced therefrom to support the book at its lower end, and a plurality of hooks carried by and projecting from said stationary member toward said movable member and having portions adjacent said stationary member curved approximately to the curvature of a spiral binder to be threaded through said openings, each hook having a straight horizontal end projecting from said stationary member and in alignment with certain of said openings when said book is arranged on said support whereby, when said movable member is moved toward said stationary member, said straight hook ends are caused to project through said certain openings and the book is moved from engagement with said support to be supported by said straight hook ends, whereupon the book is free to swing around said curved hook portions with said members engaging opposite surfaces. of the book to support it in position for the subsequent binding operation.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 whereby the end of said stationary member adjacent the book is provided with a bevelled surface diverging upwardly from the book and against which the book is adapted to lie when said curved hook portions are engaged in said certain openings with said movable member engaging the oppo- 25 L. A. LARSON, Assistant Examiner.

site side of the book, the book thus being supported between said members for the subsequent binding operation.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said movable member at the end adjacent the book is provided at the top thereof with a vertical face engageable with the book offset from said openings toward the other end of the book, said end of said movable members below said vertical face being inclined to provide a bevelled surface parallel to the bevelled surface of said stationary member, the book, when said curved hook portions are engaged in said certain openings, being engaged by said bevelled surfaces to be supported in position for the subsequent binding operation.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,300,5 44 ll/ 1942 Freundlich 140-9294 2,961,012 11/1960 Freundlich 14092.3

FOREIGN PATENTS 678,922 9/1952 Great Britain.

CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

LAWRENCE CHARLES, Examiner. 

3. AN APPARATUS FOR PREPARING AN UNBOUND BOOK FOR THE PLACING OF A SPIRAL BINDER THROUGH ALIGNED OPENINGS ADJACENT ONE END OF THE BOOK, COMPRISING A PAIR OF PARALLEL ELONGATED MEMBERS RELATIVELY MOVABLE TOWARD EACH OTHER WITH A BOOK THEREBETWEEN AND PERPENDICULAR TO THE PLANE OF SAID MEMBERS WITH SAID ALIGNED OPENINGS BETWEEN SAID MEMBERS, AND A PLURALITY OF HOOKS CARRIED BY AND PROJECTING FROM ONE OF SAID MEMBERS TOWARD THE OTHER MEMBER, SAID HOOKS HAVING PORTIONS ADJACENT SAID ONE MEMBERR CURVED APPROXIMATELY TO THE CURVATURE OF A SPIRAL BINDER TO BE THREADED THROUGH SAID OPENINGS, EACH HOOK HAVING A STRAIGHT END PROJECTING THEREFROM, SAID STRAIGHT ENDS BEING PERPENDICULAR TO THE PLANE OF THE BOOK AND IN ALIGNMENT WITH CERTAIN OF SAID OPENINGS WHEREBY, WHEN SAID MEMBERS ARE MOVED RELATIVELY TOWARD EACH OTHER, SAID STRAIGHT HOOK ENDS ARE CAUSED TO PROJECT THROUGH SAID CERTAIN OPENINGS, WHEREUPON THE BOOK IS FREE TO SWING AROUND SAID CURVED HOOK PORTIONS WITH SAID MEMBERS ENGAGING OPPOSITE SURFACES OF THE BOOK TO SUPPORT IT IN POSITION FOR THE SUBSEQUENT BINDING OPERATION. 